Wichita eagle., 1887-04-24
9ai19R agaole
OVER THE RIO cRsNpe.
The Old Adobe Town NJ paso 10, No,

Inc Old Adobe Town OF Paso Del Eorte.
Scenes Along the Railroad.
Crossing the iron bridge over the Rio
Grande the first place is Paso Del Norte, a
Mexican town Of about 5000 inhabitants. II
Is an Old adobe town, embowered in trees and
vines. As we passed rapidly through ite
dusty streets and glided by its gay houses
surrounded by high adobe walls, beautiful
gardens, rich with flowers and trees Of mag.
niticent foliage, were to be seen On either
side. Here md there q picturesque group OF
natives, clad in cotton shirts and pants, their
heads shaded by straw sombreros of huge di.
menslons, were at work in the fields or idling
beneath the shade of magnificent trees
Again they were to be seen tranping behind
the patient burro, or riding that useful ami
mai through the dusty streets. 1t is a conf
cal sight TO see . little, dusky, long cared ami
NAL carrying native whose feet are hanging
within foot Or SO OF mother earth; or pack
ing load Of wood or hay SO large that one
can only see q head decorated with e pair OF
long ears, four feet in rapid motion and a
tail wagCing as il it expressed nauSht but
pleasure and contentIent.
Iii the doors and windows ROW and then
we caught q glimpse Of a scnorita, who
favored Us with glance from a pair OF
sparkling eyes. Little bare legged urchins
seemed 10 be plentiful, and as they ran out
in the t.ust<o view the train or stood clinginG
timilly 70 their mothers skirts we could not
help wondering what their ideas of the iron
horse were and what changes American CAPT
tai ard energy would make III their land ere
they passed tho line tat divides childhood
and manhood. Paso Del Norte lies in q
beautiful valley ard the surrounding mount
aims standing with the shadows of the setting
sun upon them, enhanced the scene by their
pictureSqucGess. In few moments we ar
rived at the Mexican Central station, fine
adobe structure with an open court i'll the
center OF which were magnificent tropical
plants and flowers. There are ample veran-
daS OIL al sides, on which open Offices, waiting
rooms and n restaurant After partakiag of
good supper we attended TO our baggage.
The custom officers examined it and placed
card on every article, which permitted it TO
enter the republic They were very courie-
Gus and by no means pryiHG in their e,,an.in-
atiOn.
Leaving Paso Del Norte we pass through tia
country south, along valleys surrounded by
low mountain ranges and through the rich
pastures or san Juan, Encinales and Sauz.
Each little station pours forth its crowd CT
dusky Inhabitants, and although we hear
the click Of the telegraph and see the wen
known sign Of Wells-Fargo, we look in vain
for the enterprisiRg American. Vendors OF
fruit, candles, milk, chocolate and bread cry
their goods upon each side of Us wherever we
made stopp2ge. The country IS 4 pastoral
one on an enornons scale. Many thousands
Of cattle ere grazing near the track and their
trails run in all directions. As there are no
fences we often hear the sharp foot Of the
whistle, ard as we crane our neclls out of the
window we see cattle and other animals
scampering away from the train. Night ap-
preaching we withdrew from the windows,
and after Willing away few hours card
playing, singing, etc, we retired TO our corn
Portable berth&-COr. San francisco Chroni-